Apparatus and process for dyeing



Jan. 15, 1929.

F. w. CLARK APPARATUS AND PRocEss FOR DYEING Filed Jan. 2l, 1925lnvenTor. FranK W. CiarK M Ay.

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THTMMHIWTM mw wd Cal Patented Jan. l5, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK W. CLARK, OF SANFORD, MAINE.

APPARATUS AND PROCESS FORy DYEING.

Application filed Januaryal, 1925. sei-iai No:3,714;

ilar pieces of fabric'to be dyed to precisely the saine shade. IVliiletheoretically a single dye tub may be made of any size, there arepractical and economical limitations, so thatas a resultit is founddesirable to restrict the size of a dye tub. 'But when the number ofarticles to be dyed is larger than the capacity of a single d ve tub so4that several tubs 4are required, it is found to beextremelydifficultand practically impossible to produce precisely t-lie saineshade of color in the articles dyed in all of the different tubs. `It isfiequently a matter of great. import-ance that the shade shall beprecisely the same. For exan'lple, at the present time it is notuncoinmon for an automobile manufacturer vto super-impose fty pieces ofupholstery fabric and cntl them up simultaneously. It is obvious thatIall these fifty pieces must be of the same shade or discrepancies ofshade will be likely to appear in the upholstery of the cars.

The present invention.presents an apparatus and a process which not onlyenables practically any desired number of articles readily and easily tobe dyed to the same shade. but also one which may be employed for dyeingany less number and for dyeing to different shades and colors. In otherwords. a very flexible system is presented by this invention which isadaptable to a wide range of work. This system enables the particularobject of dyeing a large number of articles to the saine shade to besecured without a large capital outlay for thatparticular purpose,because the main units of the apparatus are available for useindependently.

The objectl of the invention is further to provide an apparatus andprocess for the dyeing by grt ups of a large number of articles in whichthe conditions of temperature and circulation of the dye liquor withrespect to the articles are independently controllable with respect. toeach group.

The nature and object of the invention will appear more fully from theaccompanying description and drawings and will be psrticularly pointedout in the. claims.

The drawings illustrate'in a forni which is largely diagrainmatical asimple and preferred type ofapparatus embodying the invention andadapted to carry out the process of the invention as applied to thedyeing of i a large number of pieces of fabric.

In the drawings:

l is -a View lin elevation and largely in vertical cross sectionshowinglthe entire apparatus .With duplicate portions thereof brokenaway.

F ig. 2 is an end elevation of of one of the supply branches.

F'g. 3 is an end elevation of the lower end of one of the steamoutlets.y

Fig. -l is an end elevation of a portion of one of the reel mechanisms.i

The geiieial nature and scope of the invention will be best understoodby the description of a simple, practical and preferred forni ofapparatus for dyeing a large number of similar pieces of fabric. Suchpieces are usually somewhat over forty yards in length and of one of thestandard Widths.

As illustrated, the floor l of the dye liouse is shown located wellabove the foundationl 2 so as to provide between a basement cha1n-. ber3, This enables the various tanks and tubs to be set at such a level asto be readily operated from the dye house floor 1.

One feature of the apparatus resides in the master mixing tank 4. Thisis built of suitable material, preferably wood, supported at the bottoniupon a platform 5 and of ample size. v

Another important feature of the apparatus resides in the unitdye tubs,of which two are shown at G and 7. But there may be as many of these dyetubs as required. They should all be of such size as to be readilyavailable for independent pieces ot' dye appaiatus. In the illustration,each tubv is assumedpto be of a capacity to hold ten pieces i ofmaterial S, as indicated in Fig. l. There is practicallyno limit to thenumber of these individual units or dye tubs that may be employed.provided themaster mixing tank is made of suiiicient capacity.

The dye liquor is mixed in the tank 4, but as the several tubs arefilled with water, as is usual at the beginning of the dyeing operation,itl is only necessary' for the tank to liavea capacity sufiicient totake care of the lcirculation hereinafter described. It will beobserved. therefore, that the master mixing tank does not have to beincreased materially in size with additional units, nor does it have thelower' end to equal in capacity the total capacity of the tubs. It issuicient only that the master tank have a capacity such that will enablethe required cireulationthrough the tubs to be maintained.

The tubs 6, 7 etc., are mounted upon plati forms 9 and 10 so that thetubs preferably stand on the same level as the tank 4. Vhere sucharticles as pieces of fabric are to be dyed, suitable means are providedin each tub for circulating the articles through the dye liquor. Suchmeans may be of the usual type, as, for example, a reel 11 mounted abovethe tub, driven by a motor 12 geared to the'reel. A suitable idler rollor bar 13 guides and separates the pieces. Each tub, in the illustratedcase, is provided with a Separate motor 12, thus enabling the speed ofthe reel to be controlled and thus .affording a means whereby the speedof circulation of the pieces malty be adjusted to be the same in all thetu s.

Each tub is preferably divided into three compartments by the solidpartition 14 having the overflow opening 15 and by the grill 16. Thecompartment to the right of the grill 16 is provided to receive thewater, dye

liquor and steam admitted to the tub and thus prevent the agitationresulting therefrom extending with full force intothe body of the tub.The partition 14 determines the level of the dye liquor in the tub andconsequently the quantity of the dye ,liquor in which the arl ticles aresubmerged and circulated'. The dye liquor is drawn off from thecompartment formed at the left of this partition.

Each tub is provided with a suitable drain shown as a pipe 17 tappedinto the bottom of the tub and covered by a strainer 18. This pipe hasan outlet 19 over adrain or sewer 20 and is opened and closed by a valve21.

An important feature of the invention resides in the circulation of thedye liquor. In the construction illustrated, a suitable suction pump 22is mounted adjacent the tank 4. A supply main 23 leads from the bottomof the mixing tank 4 to the pump and is covered at its outlet from thetank by the strainer 24. This branch of the supply mainis alsoconveniently utilized when required to drain the tank. For that purposeit is provided with an outlet Section 25 opening over a drain or sewer26, and with a valve 27 by means of which this outlet section may beshut olf or opened. The supply main continues at 28 from the pump upthrough the floor 1 and in a long run 29 above the seriesof tubs. ItseXtreme end 30 is preferably connected to an auxiliary return pipe 31which discharges at 32 into the tank 4 and is provided with a shut ofvalve 33. This auxiliary return pipe prevents any dead end in the supplymain and serves to equalize the flow.

Thesupply main is provided with a shutoff valve 34 and directlybelowthis valve -into the tank and into the several tubs.

with a branch 35 opening from the supply main into the tank 4. Thisbranch 35 is provided With a shut-off valve 36 which is closed when thedyeing opera-tion is proceeding. A relief valve 37 is convenientlylocated in the branch 35 so that if the pressure exerted by the pumpbecomes too great, the valve will open and allow the circulating liquorto discharge into the tank 4.

The supply main 29 is provided opposite each tub with an outlet branch38 opening into thevcompartment of the tub to the right of the grill 16.This branch at its lower end is preferably shaped as shown in Fig. 2 soas to have two discharge openings 39 pointed away from the center of thetub. A throttle valve 40 in each branch enables the rate of flowthrough'the branch to be regulated or adjusted accurately. A shut-olfvalve 41 in each branch enables the flow through the branch to be shutoff Without disturbing the regulating valve 40. A return main 42 extendsthrough the basement chamber 3 beneath all the tubs and discharges intothe tank 4. This return main is connected by branches with each tub. Thereturn branch 43 opens out from the chamber at the left of the partition14 in each tub so as to take the liquor overflowing from the maincompartment of the dye tub. Each return branch is provided with ashut-off valve 44.

It will be seen that the supply main 23, 28, 29 extends fromthe mastertank past the series of dye tubs andthat the return main 42 extends pastthe series of dye tubs to the tank and that the dye tubs are connected,by means of the supply branch pipes 38 and the return branch pipes 43,in parallel between and to said supply and return mains. Consequently,when the pump is in operation, the circulation takes place through thesupply main, thence through the several tubs to the return main andthence through the return main to the tank.

Means are provided for introducing water For that purpose a water main45 extends through the basement and is provided with a branch 46 havingan outlet over the top of the tank controlled by a valve 4T and with abranch 48 at each tub having an outlet 49 over the top of each tubcontrolled by a valve 50.

Suitable means are also provided for heating the water or dye liquor inthe tank and tubs. This is conveniently secured by injecting steam intothe liquor. For this purpose a steam main 51 extends above the tank andseries of tubs. A branch 52 extends into the tank 4 and is provided witha spray section 53. This branch 52 is provided with a valve 54, by meansof which the amount of steam admitted to the tank, and consequently thetemperature of the liquoi inthe tank, may be controlled.

VEach of these branches is also provided witha regulating valve 57 bymeans of which the' flow of steam, and consequently the temperature, canbe accurately regulated.

It Will be noted that the Water outlet 49.

the branch 38 from the circulating main, and the branch 55 from thelsteam main all enter the chamber in the tub at. the right of the grill16 so as to prevent,l so far as possible,

. agitation of the main body of liquor in which the articles to be dyedare located.

Assuming now that it is desired to dye a large number of pieces offabric to the same shade, the required number of tubs are provided andin each tub is mounted a given number of pieces. In the particularapparatus illustrated, each tub would have ten pieces.

The dye liquor is then mixed in the mastei mixing tank 4. In order tocirculate and mix tlirouglily the ingredients of this liquor, theshut-olf valve 34 is closed and the valve 36 opened and the pump set inmotion. This causes a circulation from the tank through the main 23 and28, through the branch 85 back into the tank. The -required amount ofwater is added through the Water branch -l6 and the liquor brought tothe required temperature by the introduction of steam through the pipe52.

In the meantime each tub is lled with cold water from the pipe 49 andthe reels 11 set in motion to circulate the pieces through the vvater.

N ext the valve 36 is closed and the valve 3-l opened. This opens thecirculatory system and at once the dye liquor in the master mixing tankl begins to circulate through the supply main, thence through the supplybranches into the several tubs, mixing With the Water in the tubs, andthence the mixture passes out through the return branches into thereturn main and back into the mixingtank. As this circulation proceeds,the conditions in the several tubs are equalized. In the firstplace, thequantity of liquor present in each tub is maintained ata predetermined,

and preferably at the same, amount by reason of the overflow 15 in thepartition l-l, which regulates the height of liquid in the tub. In thesecond place, the rate of flow of the liquor from the supply main intoeach tub is controlled by the valve 40. so as to be the same at eachtub. In the third place, the tenip perature conditions in each tub arecontrolled by means of the valve 57 in the branch 55 from the steammain, and preferably controlled so as tohe the same in each tuh.

In the preferred form of the invention Where all the articles are to ,hedyed to the same shade. these controls are arranged so 'that there shallbe the saine quantity of dye liquor in each tub, the same rate of Howinto each tub and the same temperature conditions in each tub.'- .Underthese circumstances the circulation of the dye liquor through the systemcauses the same conditions to be present in each tub. Steam injected inthe tank and tubs to produce the required temperature condenses, but theresulting dilution is equalized throughout by means of the circulation.

rl`he 'rate of circulation should be such that the total quantity ofliquor in the apparatus shall circulate through the complete cycle apluralityv of times during a given dyeing operation'. It has been found,for example. that in a dyeing operation requiring about an hour. fromeight to ten complete cycles of circulation produce most satisfactoryresults. The invention produces an apparatus and presents a process ofgreat flexibility. Practically any -nuinber of dye tubs may be employedso that the total number of articles dyed at the saine time to the sameshade may be as many as required.

Each dye tub is an independent unit and may be cut out from the systemand used independently in the usual manner that such tubs are used. Allthat it is necessary to do is to close the valves 4l and 44, rl`hen thedye may be mixed and used in the individual tub.

'hile the invention is illustrated particularly in relation with piecedyeing. stock. various materials orv articles may he dyed by properlocation of the overflow and adjustment of the conditions.

Int-he process of this invention by which a large nuinher of articlesmay readily and expeditiously be dyed to the same shade, it will be seenthat a master pool of dye liquor is maintained in the tank 4 and thatthe tubs contain baths of dye liquor of a predetermined dept-h. In thesebaths the articles to he dyed are circulated by groups, that is, onegroup in each bath. A constant circulation of the dye liquor ismaintained from the pool at an equal rate through each bath and thenback to the pool. and preferably this iate of lui) circulation is suchthat the total quantity of i dye liquor in the pool and baths circulatesthrough the complete cycle a plurality of times during the dyeingoperation.

An essential element` of the apparatus is a uniform concentration 'oft-,he coloring matter in the dye liquor on the articles contained in theseveral tubs, so that all of the articles f are dyed precisely alike, orto the same shade. In practice I experimentally valves -lO before thedyeing opei'ation. until it is known that the liquor is entering theadjust the i several tubs at the same rate. When the desired adjustment,is attained, the valves 40 are allowed to remain in their adjustedpositions, and the dyeing operation proceeds as above described.

thereof maintained substantially vertically While a movement of liquoris produced substantially horizontally across the sheets. This causesthe liquor topass through the openings and interstices of the fabric andat the same time to produce a uniform impregnation and dyeing of itsconstituent yarns, dyeing conditions being maintained substantiallyuniform as the total quantity of dye liquor passes from the master poolthrough the baths a plurality of times While the sheets vare beingpassed therethrough during a dyeing operation.

Having thus described the invention, what isclaimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. An apparatus for dyeing a plurality of articles, comprising a mastermixing tank, a supply main from the master tank, having a plurality ofbranches, a plurality' of dye tubs o'pen to the atmosphere and arrangedto receive dye liquor from said branches, a return mainconnected withthe master tank and vthe tank through the supply main, its

. branches, the tubs, the return main branches,

and the return main, back to the tank, and

means having provisions for moving the liquor horizontally through thetubs, and independently regulable valves in the supply main branches forequalizing the How of the 'dye liquor through said supply main, itsbranches and the tubs, so that the coloring matter is uniformlyconcentrated on the articles inthe several tubs.

:2. An apparatus for dyeing a plurality of articles, comprising a mastermixing tank, a supply main from the master tank having a plurality ofbranches, a plurality of dye tubs open to the atmosphere and arranged toreceive dye liquor from said branches, a return main connected with themaster tank and having branches connected with the several tubs, meansfor circulating dye liquor from the master tank through the supply main,its branches, the tubs, the return main branches, and the return main,back to the master tank, said means havlng provisions `the recirculationof the total quantity for moving/'the liquor horizontally through thetubs, means for equalizing the How of the dye liquor through said supplymain and its branches, and the tubs, so that the coloring matter isuniformly concentrated on the articles in the several tubs, and meansfor maintaining a predetermined depth of dye liquor in each tub, thesupply main branches communicating with one end of the storage spaces inthe tubs, While the return main branches communicate with the oppositeends of said spaces, so that the liquor maintained at a. predetermineddepth, is adapted to flow horizontally across articles supported inintermediate portions of the tubs.

3. A process of dyeing articles in a plurality of dye baths to a uniformshade, Which comprises maintaining a master pool of dye liquor inindependent circulatory communication with each of the dye baths, andWhile the articles are immersed in the dye baths causing circulation ofthe liquor through the baths at a rate ensuring the recirculation oftheA total quantity of liquor from the master pool through the baths aplurality of times during a dyeing operation, thereby maintainingsubstantially uniform dyeing conditions in all the baths.

4. A process of dyeing articles at elevated temperature in a pluralityof dyeing baths to a uniform shade, which comprises maintaining a masterpool of dye liquor in independent circulatory communication With each ofthe dye baths, injecting steam directly into the dye liquor to maintainit at elevated temperature, and While the articles are immersed in thedye baths causing circulation of the liquor through the baths at a rateensuring o liquor from the master pool through the baths a plurality oftimes during the dyeing operation, thereby maintaining substantiallyuniform elevated temperature dyeing conditions in all the baths.

5. A process of dyeing a plurality of sheets of fabric to a uniformshade, which comprises lnaintaining a master pool of dye liquor incirculatory communication with a bath of dye liquor, passing the sheetsprogressively through the bath of liquor, and while the sheets are beingpassed therethroughcirculating the total quantity of dye liquor severaltimes lfrom the pool through the bath during the'dyeing operation,thereby ensuring substantially uniform dyeing conditions during theoperation.

6. A process of dyeing a plurality of sheets of fabric to a uniformshade in a plurality of dye baths, which comprises maintaining a masterpool of dye liquor inindependent circulatory communication with each ofthe baths of dye liquor, passing the sheets progressively through thelbaths of liquor, and while the sheets are being passed therethroughproducing a continuous movement llty gressively through the baths of dyeliquor communication with each of the` baths of dye liquor, passing thesheets pros with stretches thereof maintained substantially vertically,and While the sheets are thus being passed therethrough producing acontinuous movement of the liquor through each of the bathssubstantially horizontally across the sheet and at the same timecirculating the total quantity of dye liquor several times from the poolthrough the baths during a dyeing operation, thereby ensuringsubstantially uniform dyeing conditions dur' ing the operation.

In testimony whereof, I name to this specification.

FRANK W. CLARK.

have signed my

